Becky Ames has been mayor of Beaumont since 2007, and voters should return her for another term. It’s not a hard decision either. She is serving effectively, and none of her four challengers gives voters a reason to replace her. This is not a job for a beginner; it requires someone who can lead the city and help make good things happen. Ames does that admirably, more so than any mayor in the city’s modern history. She even had 13 years of City Council experience before that, making her as knowledgeable about city government as much as virtually anyone..

She is accessible to voters (the same cell phone number since 1994) and has been to every corner and neighborhood of this city. She knows that people need the basics — streets, sewers, police and fire protection — as well as innovative changes like a food truck plaza, the Cattail Marsh Boardwalk and the Tyrrell Park Birding Center. That’s an important mix.

She played a lead role in the city’s efforts to acquire the old AT&T building on Main Street, and that didn’t work out. But the important thing is that she was proactive, not content to keep waiting for something to happen. Cities need mayors like that, men and women who aren’t afraid to take chances and aim high. More often than not, that approach will lead to positive change.

— In the Ward 1 race, incumbent Virginia Jordan merits re-election over challengers Taylor Neild and Taheruddin Quaraishi. Jordan is anything but complacent about Beaumont; she’s a feisty voice for a better and more interesting city. She led efforts to reduce litter and conceived the idea to let artists paint the streetcorner utility boxes. She’s also pushed back against the game rooms that attract so much crime. The council should always take this approach — addressing our problems and pursuing our needs more directly instead of hoping they take care of themselves.

— In the Ward 2 race, we recommend incumbent Mike Getz over challenger Jefferson Fisher, but this was a tough one to decide. Fisher is presenting himself as a more unifying figure than the sometimes-caustic Getz. Fisher believes — rightly — that the city will make more progress when it is working toward consensus goals instead of bickering amongst ourselves.

Getz is passionate about improving Beaumont and serving his ward. Sometimes he ruffles some feathers when he does that, but every public board needs someone like Getz who isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. Getz should must remember the end product of all this must be a better Beaumont. If the situation calls for it, he should be supportive instead of critical. After a vigorous debate, if someone else has a good idea, he should get behind it 100%.

— In Ward 3, we support incumbent Audwin Samuel over challenger Christopher Jones. Samuel has clashed often with Getz, but again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Too many public boards keep those kinds of disagreements behind closed doors when they should be out in the open because they involve public business. Samuel, like Getz, is an attorney, and it’s good have people in that profession on a City Council. So much of city business relates to what is legally possible. Jones has run for mayor before and not had much luck. But he’s getting more focused on city issues and should do better this time. Samuel could be vulnerable to a strong, committed challenger, but Jones doesn’t quite measure up this time.

— In Ward 4, incumbent Robin Mouton is unopposed.

— The competition for the two at-large seats will be hardest for voters to decide, for two clear reasons: There are seven candidates running, and all of them have something to offer. But only two can be elected, and we endorse incumbent W.L. Pate and challenger Randy Feldschau.

Pate has vast connections in politics and business that can pay dividends for Beaumont. That can make a big difference in getting a grant or a project OK’d or seeing some other city get it. Every council needs someone like Pate who can make a phone call or schedule a lunch to close the deal. We would urge him, however, to use these contacts more actively instead of waiting for a specific need to crop up. That influence must be used, not kept in reserve. Sometimes you can get things done on the front end, not just the back end.

Feldschau stands out in the rest of the field for his impressive service as pastor of Cathedral in the Pines. This is a major church doing major things to help make Beaumont better. Feldschau has taken lead roles in reducing gun violence, promoting racial reconciliation and helping people recover from addictions. He knows that Beaumont is a multi-cultural city that must include all of us to move forward. He’s not a low-key, quiet pastor either. He’s a no-nonsense, authoritative person who knows how to lead and motivate people, and the City Council can use his attitude. Someone with this personality would have a short learning curve on the council.

Among the other challengers, T.J Rodman and Albert Turner impressed us considerably. These are young, enthusiastic men who don’t want to wait for someone older to address challenges they see now. They want a more vibrant, interesting Beaumont, and they want to do things now to bring that about. We wish there was a place for them on the council, but with seven people vying for two slots, the space is just not there. We encourage them to run again, however, and serve on other city boards in the meantime. Cities need young motivators like them, and we hope they get a chance someday to show what they can do.